IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has reiterated his desire to fight Andre Ward next - as long as he successfully defeats Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night.

Froch is preparing himself to meet Kessler at London's O2 Arena at the weekend, hoping to avenge one of just two defeats he has suffered in his professional career to date . The other came against American Ward in the final of the fabled 'Super Six' super-middleweight tournament that involved all three men back in 2011.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday's fight, the Nottingham boxer again stated his desire to meet Ward for a second time, provided he beats the Dane.

"Andre Ward is number two pound-for-pound in the world," Froch said. "He is so highly ranked by everybody in England and American and all the boxing pundits that's it's almost ridiculous.

"This guy has not lost since he was 12 years old. He is an Olympic gold medallist; he is unbeaten as a professional and has a win over Mikkel Kessler and myself.

"Realistically the guy that wins this fight should be looking to avenge the defeat against Andre Ward and that is what I am looking at doing."

Froch's promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes the American - who will be ringside for the fight as part his broadcasting duties for American channel HBO - is also keen to meet Froch again, due to the potential sums involved.

"Everyone will want to fight Froch because there's a huge amount of money," Hearn told the BBC. "Of course Andre Ward is dying for a rematch. Froch is a true superstar."

Froch is not looking beyond Kessler, however, saying he is prepared to leave "everything" in the ring in order to avenge the close-fought defeat he suffered in 2010. >

"This fight is the reason I got involved in boxing and turned professional," he said. "I wasn't going to turn pro and I wouldn't have if it wasn't for my trainer Rob McCracken, who talked me into it.

"This is the pinnacle of my career. I'm so excited. I'm not overwhelmed, just excited. I owe him one and this time I'm going to put the record straight. I'll leave everything in that ring - blood, sweat, tears, whatever."

Kessler, however, is not expecting to be beaten - even on enemy soil.

"I don't see a bigger fight in the world right now," he said. "I want to fight the best. I shook Carl's hand and said I'm going to come to your home country to fight you and that's why I'm here.

"I'm also here because I want to show him I'm better than him in his own country. I've never lost in Denmark.

"I've never had the IBF belt. I've had the WBC and WBA but I want new things. In life you've got to chase things and I'm chasing his belt. I want to show Carl - and all the boxing fans in the world - that I can beat him in his hometown."